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Saints: Becoming More Than "Christians"
The Bible uses the word Christian to describe followers of Jesus a grand total of three times. But there's another identifier that fills the pages of the New Testament--a word we've mistakenly reserved for the halo-wearing elite, losing something profound in the process.
Saints .
Wrapped in this ancient word is a divine invitation to discover who God created you to be and awaken to the life you were meant to know. Using Scripture and stories from his own experience, Addison Bevere makes a compelling case that the life you desire is found in the mystery of this sacred identity.
If you want to exchange lifeless religion for the wonder of following Jesus, this book will spur you onward in your journey.
******
"In Saints: Becoming More Than 'Christians, ' Addison will encourage you to stop fighting for victory and start living from the victorious destiny we already have through Jesus."--Christine Caine, bestselling author and founder of A21 and Propel Women
"Saints is a clarion call to look past ourselves and to the only one who offers us the good life."--Kyle Idleman, senior pastor of Southeast Christian Church and author of Not a Fan and Don't Give Up
"All I can say is 'Wow'! This 'Wow' speaks to the depth of knowledge, strength of wisdom, and keen insight found in Saints. It's obvious God has given Addison a voice, one that calls all generations to a higher level of living. As a father and fellow minister, I couldn't be prouder."--John Bevere, bestselling author and cofounder of Messenger International
"While the word Christian seems to mean a lot of things to a lot of people, Saints calls us back to following our one and only, Jesus Christ."--Chris Hodges, senior pastor of Church of the Highlands and author of The Daniel Dilemma and What's Next?
"Addison encourages us to put on our identity as a saint and live in a relationship with Jesus. Saints is an authentic look at what faith can be."--Bob Goff, New York Times bestselling author of Love Does and Everybody, Always
"In a time when so many young men are deconstructing the sacred, Addison has leaned into it. I am challenged, corrected, and lifted by Saints."--Lisa Bevere, New York Times bestselling author and ridiculously proud mother
"Addison Bevere has a unique voice in this generation. His new book is a force to be reckoned with in a world that misplaces its identity."--Heather Lindsey, author, speaker, and founder of Pinky Promise
Saints .
Wrapped in this ancient word is a divine invitation to discover who God created you to be and awaken to the life you were meant to know. Using Scripture and stories from his own experience, Addison Bevere makes a compelling case that the life you desire is found in the mystery of this sacred identity.
If you want to exchange lifeless religion for the wonder of following Jesus, this book will spur you onward in your journey.
******
"In Saints: Becoming More Than 'Christians, ' Addison will encourage you to stop fighting for victory and start living from the victorious destiny we already have through Jesus."--Christine Caine, bestselling author and founder of A21 and Propel Women
"Saints is a clarion call to look past ourselves and to the only one who offers us the good life."--Kyle Idleman, senior pastor of Southeast Christian Church and author of Not a Fan and Don't Give Up
"All I can say is 'Wow'! This 'Wow' speaks to the depth of knowledge, strength of wisdom, and keen insight found in Saints. It's obvious God has given Addison a voice, one that calls all generations to a higher level of living. As a father and fellow minister, I couldn't be prouder."--John Bevere, bestselling author and cofounder of Messenger International
"While the word Christian seems to mean a lot of things to a lot of people, Saints calls us back to following our one and only, Jesus Christ."--Chris Hodges, senior pastor of Church of the Highlands and author of The Daniel Dilemma and What's Next?
"Addison encourages us to put on our identity as a saint and live in a relationship with Jesus. Saints is an authentic look at what faith can be."--Bob Goff, New York Times bestselling author of Love Does and Everybody, Always
"In a time when so many young men are deconstructing the sacred, Addison has leaned into it. I am challenged, corrected, and lifted by Saints."--Lisa Bevere, New York Times bestselling author and ridiculously proud mother
"Addison Bevere has a unique voice in this generation. His new book is a force to be reckoned with in a world that misplaces its identity."--Heather Lindsey, author, speaker, and founder of Pinky Promise
240 pages, Hardcover
Published January 21, 2020
130 people are currently reading
1165 people want to read
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April 7, 2020
Austin Bevere explores what it means to be a saint, a word commonly used to describe followers of Christ in the New Testament. It is a word with a rich meaning and context—not the perfection and elitism often ascribed to it today—and it offers an incredible invitation toward understanding God-given purpose, identity, and love more fully. A challenging, insightful, uplifting, wise exploration, this book left me full of hope and with a lot to ponder.
This review is also posted on Hallie Reads.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
This review is also posted on Hallie Reads.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
January 27, 2020
Thank you in advance to the publisher for providing a complimentary copy to review. All words are my own in this review and a positive review was not required.
“Saints: Becoming More Than Christians” is one of those books that I didn’t know what to expect from. I am still new to books such as this. And, this was definitely a stunning read. The cover is striking, yet simple. And, being a hardcover, this is sturdy – much like the bible.
This is not a “self-help” per say in the way that it lacks worksheets and “goals” for those kind of books.
This isn’t a book you read once and shelve either. This also wasn’t a “can’t stop turning the pages” kind of read either. This is a book that the reader carefully reads and sorts through. I did enjoy it as I read it.
This is a book to come back to for re-affirmations and to continue to forge good, healthy, habits, and become what God expects. It is a bedside table kind of read or one that you keep close to you.
Using scripture (and sometimes humor) as examples, Bevere explains how God has set in motion what he wants us to be – and what tools we can use to be that person. One example is “Saints” where Bevere states that is someone thinks this is a book about “Saints”, he won’t feel offended if the reader sends the book back where it came from.
The author points out that by no means is this book or the words in it is meant to be about perfection. It is about devotion, obedience, along with finding the wonder and glory in every moment. And, he makes excellent points.
According to Bevere’s book, the term “Christian” is only used three (3) times to describe the “followers”. Yet, “Hagios” (the Latin term for Saints) is mentioned sixty (60) times.
Bevere explains that we have mistakenly applied the word to people of the halo-wearing group. And, that the term “Christian” seems a cheap way to refer to the followers of God and Jesus Christ.
Bevere notes that humans in pursuit of a life apart from God, have stripped him from their lives and are not living the God-infused life they should, which is the source of life. Part of this is because they are terrified of dependence on God, or someone else.
One passage that struck some harmony with me regarded finding “heaven” while living. He states that heaven could be defined by “peace, joy, togetherness, forgiveness, love, mercy, and wholeness in our lives”. And, we can have that now.
Bevere’s writing style is casual, almost as if he is talking with the reader at a coffeehouse or in their home. This is a journey and not a weekend workshop. This is meant to grow over a lifetime.
Recommended for those who want to take their spiritual relationship with God and Jesus a step further (farther).
“Saints: Becoming More Than Christians” is one of those books that I didn’t know what to expect from. I am still new to books such as this. And, this was definitely a stunning read. The cover is striking, yet simple. And, being a hardcover, this is sturdy – much like the bible.
This is not a “self-help” per say in the way that it lacks worksheets and “goals” for those kind of books.
This isn’t a book you read once and shelve either. This also wasn’t a “can’t stop turning the pages” kind of read either. This is a book that the reader carefully reads and sorts through. I did enjoy it as I read it.
This is a book to come back to for re-affirmations and to continue to forge good, healthy, habits, and become what God expects. It is a bedside table kind of read or one that you keep close to you.
Using scripture (and sometimes humor) as examples, Bevere explains how God has set in motion what he wants us to be – and what tools we can use to be that person. One example is “Saints” where Bevere states that is someone thinks this is a book about “Saints”, he won’t feel offended if the reader sends the book back where it came from.
The author points out that by no means is this book or the words in it is meant to be about perfection. It is about devotion, obedience, along with finding the wonder and glory in every moment. And, he makes excellent points.
According to Bevere’s book, the term “Christian” is only used three (3) times to describe the “followers”. Yet, “Hagios” (the Latin term for Saints) is mentioned sixty (60) times.
Bevere explains that we have mistakenly applied the word to people of the halo-wearing group. And, that the term “Christian” seems a cheap way to refer to the followers of God and Jesus Christ.
Bevere notes that humans in pursuit of a life apart from God, have stripped him from their lives and are not living the God-infused life they should, which is the source of life. Part of this is because they are terrified of dependence on God, or someone else.
One passage that struck some harmony with me regarded finding “heaven” while living. He states that heaven could be defined by “peace, joy, togetherness, forgiveness, love, mercy, and wholeness in our lives”. And, we can have that now.
Bevere’s writing style is casual, almost as if he is talking with the reader at a coffeehouse or in their home. This is a journey and not a weekend workshop. This is meant to grow over a lifetime.
Recommended for those who want to take their spiritual relationship with God and Jesus a step further (farther).
February 12, 2020
“In Christ, we don’t lose our individuality. We find it- reborn and infused with God’s DNA. If we are to become Saints, we must let go of the Old Self. There is no middle ground.”
When I think of myself, and the church in general, the word “saint” does not usually come to mind. Yet, this word is used to describe followers of Jesus various times in the New Testament, and the word “Christian” is rarely used. Saints are not someone strumming a harp and wearing a halo. Saint is a title that we can claim as a follower of Christ, in the midst of this messy life. Saints is a book that invites us to seek the life we want through embracing the title of saint.
I found this book to be a bit heavy at times, and sometimes caused me to lose interest. It is definitely a read that needs to be digested slowly, as there is a good message to soak in. Bevere obviously put a lot of time and research into this book, but I would like to have seen more personal stories and connections, and more of a practical guide to applying the concepts to my life. I did like that he used examples from the Bible to back up his thoughts/topics. I also found the topic to be timely for today’s Christians (or should I say Saints?).
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Revell, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
When I think of myself, and the church in general, the word “saint” does not usually come to mind. Yet, this word is used to describe followers of Jesus various times in the New Testament, and the word “Christian” is rarely used. Saints are not someone strumming a harp and wearing a halo. Saint is a title that we can claim as a follower of Christ, in the midst of this messy life. Saints is a book that invites us to seek the life we want through embracing the title of saint.
I found this book to be a bit heavy at times, and sometimes caused me to lose interest. It is definitely a read that needs to be digested slowly, as there is a good message to soak in. Bevere obviously put a lot of time and research into this book, but I would like to have seen more personal stories and connections, and more of a practical guide to applying the concepts to my life. I did like that he used examples from the Bible to back up his thoughts/topics. I also found the topic to be timely for today’s Christians (or should I say Saints?).
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Revell, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 7, 2021
Definitely agree if you want to exchange a lifeless religion for the wonder of following Jesus. This book did exactly that. It also increased my desire for The Word of God.
Great book. Will be passing it down to our children.
Thank you Addison and Julia.
Great book. Will be passing it down to our children.
Thank you Addison and Julia.
January 14, 2024
I really wanted to love this book. First of all, it looks pretty. I love the cloth cover and the design overall. The illustrations inside are beautiful and tie the chapters in very well.
However, this book is so wordy. This felt like reading a seminary dissertation at times.
Don't get me wrong, Addison has some amazing points (my favs below) but this was not easy to consume. It took me over 7 months to read, mind you I did put it aside for a while to complete a Bible study, but still. It took me a bit to even want to pick it up again after putting it aside.
This is great theology with some practical pointers.
Not a fav. Not a bad book either.
This is best suited for a philosophic reader and I think I'm too pragmatic to fully appreciate this.
Highlights :
-Eternal life cannot be accessed by our goodness but by receiving God's goodness. No matter how good we make ourselves, we cannot become what we were created to be.
-That's why the good life isn't something you find; it's someone you become.
-By the power of God's eternal Spirit, you can become a Saint; someone whose life is marked by a hope and a purpose that astound our world and point people to the One who is life.
-To become a Saint...is to feel what God feels for this world, empowering us to align our actions with his heart.
-If grace emanates from the fullness of God, then there's no way we could exhaust its depths.
-In Christ, we don't lose our individuality. We find it - reborn and infused with God's DNA.
-We need to live in the tension. Through pain and joy we will awaken to the God-within life.
-The gift of salvation is first and foremost a change of identity.
-When I think of childlikeness, humility is the first attribute that comes to mind. Kids love learning and exploring new things. They are rarely satisfied with shallow answers because their imaginations know no bounds.
-But God never gets frustrated by our questions. In fact, he invites us to be relentless in our asking (Matt. 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13). An inquisitive disposition will lead to a greater understanding of truth, and he is the truth. A life of childlike humility will give us eyes to see who God is and what he has for us.
-James's call to action is greater than moralism or following the rules. James is challenging is to embrace our True Self and reveal God's ways to our world.
-God is more concerned about our trajectory than our level of accomplishment.
-Jesus is God's demonstration of his love for us; Jesus's Spirit within us should create a practical demonstration of God's love for the world.
-What's amazing about god's gift of salvation is that it comes with everything we need. To say that it doesn't is to say one could fragment and segment the gospel message and the work of the cross. Such a notion is ludicrous. We receive the Spirit of Christ in full. There's nothing more we can do-it's either there or it isn't. We do, however, determine the degree the implanted word reshapes our lives here and now.
-Pride is the grace blocker. Pride distorts the mirror of understanding. So what is pride? Pride is when we elevate our opinion over God's. It's when we put more stock in humans than God, worshipping the creation rather than the Creator. Pride is to deny who God has re-created us to be. It is to deny him. God will not play second fiddle in your life. Either he has the final say or he doesn't. And he will not allow the power of his grace to feed a destructive view of yourself. Pride takes on many different forms: insecurity, doubt, and arrogance, just to name a few. But all these have the same root-a distorted view of your identity in Christ and a low view of God.
-Our confidence is found in his ability to make something good from our lives.
-...there's a big difference between being afraid of God and fearing him.
-God delivered his people so they could experience the true end and scope of life, which is him. But Israel's infatuation with their deliverance had become an idol. They had certain ideas of what deliverance and life should look like, so they became petulant when God's ways didn't match their own. They wanted deliverance without the Deliverer, the promised land without the Promiser. They were afraid of God, but they didn't fear God, so they ran from his glory. As my dad says, "The fear-of-the-Lord isn't to be afraid of God; it's to be afraid of being away from God."
-Our good Father will not deliver us from trouble when he knows that trouble will deliver us from ourselves.
-In its purest form, this is what holy or holiness means-there is no one like God; he is set apart, entirely other.
-Isaiah humbled himself in the presence of God, and in return God gave him the capacity to understand and speak. When Isaiah saw God, everything changed.
-When we shudder in the presence of Gd, the One who is simply I AM WHO I AM, we shake off what is not us.
-At this intersection of confidence and humility, we find vulnerability.
-Jesus became intimate with our joy and pain, holding back nothing so that we could have everything.
-We are the ones made in his image.
-To deny our value is to deny God's creative power. It is to deny his glory.
-With King David we cry, "Who am I that you are mindful of me?" (Ps. 8:4). And God responds, "You are everything to me. After all, I intimately formed you in your mother's womb. Now take the plunge into my love and know life without measure" (my paraphrase).
-Without intimacy, we cannot become our True Self.
-But when we dive into fear and become intimate with the One who gave his life for us, losing our apparent smallness in his largeness, we embrace the only One who has the right to set our value.
-We must learn to live in the tension of being fully known while not yet knowing fully.
-At times it may seem as if truth- which emanates from God- changes, but it doesn't. Rather, it's our view of truth that is maturing, expanding, or refocusing.
-But when we understand that sin causes us to both miss the target and suffer real loss, we look at it with new eyes and find courage to engage in fresh conversation.
-In his letter to the Galatians, Paul even had to point out that the covenant preceded the law by 430 years. Abraham, the father of faith, didn't have a list of rules that kept him from sinning. It was his faith- not his law keeping - that made him righteous, positioning him to receive God's covenantal purpose and promise.
-The truth is grace calls us to a higher standard- a standard that supersedes the confines of rules, a standard that goes beyond what we belive we're capable of.
-Grace goes after the root of sin- our broken nature. The law just managed sin's fruit.
-...God's position isn't threatened by our worshiping someone or something else. His jealousy is aroused by his love for us. He knows that by worshiping someone or something else, we are essentially unmaking ourselves. To worship something is to draw life from it, and there is no true life apart from God.
-He has greater glory in store for us than we could ever imagine, but we will not step into that glory if we hold on to our lives. In Christ, the only things we get to keep are the ones we freely give away.
-When we call ourselves Christians (little Christs), we claim a new identity. We claim a new inspiration, a new source of life. But when we shrink back from who God has re-created us to be, we become Christlike caricatures. We may bear a faint resemblance, but that semblance becomes a point of mockery: "The name of God is blasphemed...because of you" (Rom. 2:24).
-Because Jesus laid down his life, we can lay down our sins.
-God cares more about what's happening in us than what's happening to us. Don't get me wrong; he cares about both. But like any good parent, he doesn't compromise our future by pacifying our present.
-The transcendent holiness that is our in Christ "is not (as people often imagine) a matter of denying something good. It is about growing up and grasping something even better."
-The cross doesn't just represent redemption. It also tells the story of God's faith, steadfast love,...and patient endurance. He will not give up on us. Even when we are faithless- he is faithful.
-He seems us not as we are but as we could be.
-Jesus understands better than any of us that we are all works in progress. When he corrects us, it isn't a form of rejection; rather, it's the confirmation of his vision for our lives and his belief in us. We are destined for more. We are capable of more. So he calls us onward toward that more.
-James' point is that God uses the trials (or pain) in our lives to purify us and make us whole. God doesn't waste anything. He even finds ways to redeem the pain and trials- caused by our own personal sins and the general brokenness of this world- to complete a perfect work in us. His love for us took on human form so that he might intimately lead us through suffering. This is why the writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus learned obedience through suffering and was made perfect through the process (5:8-9). It was through obedience in the process that Jesus "became truly and fully what in His nature He already was."
-God sees us both as we are and how we should be. And he loves everything in between. We can be confident in his love. In patience, we can welcome to pain of the process- even when it doesn't make sense. God promises to redeem the pain, weaving it together to reveal our True Self- secure in him. That's his vision for us- and it's a vision he was willing to die for.
-We are most alive when we are channeling God's grace, love, and holiness.
-...growth follows obedience. And the ultimate act of obedience is to believe and receive what God says about us in his Word.
-"There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below." -Charles Haddon Spurgeon
-Faith in general does you no good. Faith must become personal and specific.
However, this book is so wordy. This felt like reading a seminary dissertation at times.
Don't get me wrong, Addison has some amazing points (my favs below) but this was not easy to consume. It took me over 7 months to read, mind you I did put it aside for a while to complete a Bible study, but still. It took me a bit to even want to pick it up again after putting it aside.
This is great theology with some practical pointers.
Not a fav. Not a bad book either.
This is best suited for a philosophic reader and I think I'm too pragmatic to fully appreciate this.
Highlights :
-Eternal life cannot be accessed by our goodness but by receiving God's goodness. No matter how good we make ourselves, we cannot become what we were created to be.
-That's why the good life isn't something you find; it's someone you become.
-By the power of God's eternal Spirit, you can become a Saint; someone whose life is marked by a hope and a purpose that astound our world and point people to the One who is life.
-To become a Saint...is to feel what God feels for this world, empowering us to align our actions with his heart.
-If grace emanates from the fullness of God, then there's no way we could exhaust its depths.
-In Christ, we don't lose our individuality. We find it - reborn and infused with God's DNA.
-We need to live in the tension. Through pain and joy we will awaken to the God-within life.
-The gift of salvation is first and foremost a change of identity.
-When I think of childlikeness, humility is the first attribute that comes to mind. Kids love learning and exploring new things. They are rarely satisfied with shallow answers because their imaginations know no bounds.
-But God never gets frustrated by our questions. In fact, he invites us to be relentless in our asking (Matt. 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13). An inquisitive disposition will lead to a greater understanding of truth, and he is the truth. A life of childlike humility will give us eyes to see who God is and what he has for us.
-James's call to action is greater than moralism or following the rules. James is challenging is to embrace our True Self and reveal God's ways to our world.
-God is more concerned about our trajectory than our level of accomplishment.
-Jesus is God's demonstration of his love for us; Jesus's Spirit within us should create a practical demonstration of God's love for the world.
-What's amazing about god's gift of salvation is that it comes with everything we need. To say that it doesn't is to say one could fragment and segment the gospel message and the work of the cross. Such a notion is ludicrous. We receive the Spirit of Christ in full. There's nothing more we can do-it's either there or it isn't. We do, however, determine the degree the implanted word reshapes our lives here and now.
-Pride is the grace blocker. Pride distorts the mirror of understanding. So what is pride? Pride is when we elevate our opinion over God's. It's when we put more stock in humans than God, worshipping the creation rather than the Creator. Pride is to deny who God has re-created us to be. It is to deny him. God will not play second fiddle in your life. Either he has the final say or he doesn't. And he will not allow the power of his grace to feed a destructive view of yourself. Pride takes on many different forms: insecurity, doubt, and arrogance, just to name a few. But all these have the same root-a distorted view of your identity in Christ and a low view of God.
-Our confidence is found in his ability to make something good from our lives.
-...there's a big difference between being afraid of God and fearing him.
-God delivered his people so they could experience the true end and scope of life, which is him. But Israel's infatuation with their deliverance had become an idol. They had certain ideas of what deliverance and life should look like, so they became petulant when God's ways didn't match their own. They wanted deliverance without the Deliverer, the promised land without the Promiser. They were afraid of God, but they didn't fear God, so they ran from his glory. As my dad says, "The fear-of-the-Lord isn't to be afraid of God; it's to be afraid of being away from God."
-Our good Father will not deliver us from trouble when he knows that trouble will deliver us from ourselves.
-In its purest form, this is what holy or holiness means-there is no one like God; he is set apart, entirely other.
-Isaiah humbled himself in the presence of God, and in return God gave him the capacity to understand and speak. When Isaiah saw God, everything changed.
-When we shudder in the presence of Gd, the One who is simply I AM WHO I AM, we shake off what is not us.
-At this intersection of confidence and humility, we find vulnerability.
-Jesus became intimate with our joy and pain, holding back nothing so that we could have everything.
-We are the ones made in his image.
-To deny our value is to deny God's creative power. It is to deny his glory.
-With King David we cry, "Who am I that you are mindful of me?" (Ps. 8:4). And God responds, "You are everything to me. After all, I intimately formed you in your mother's womb. Now take the plunge into my love and know life without measure" (my paraphrase).
-Without intimacy, we cannot become our True Self.
-But when we dive into fear and become intimate with the One who gave his life for us, losing our apparent smallness in his largeness, we embrace the only One who has the right to set our value.
-We must learn to live in the tension of being fully known while not yet knowing fully.
-At times it may seem as if truth- which emanates from God- changes, but it doesn't. Rather, it's our view of truth that is maturing, expanding, or refocusing.
-But when we understand that sin causes us to both miss the target and suffer real loss, we look at it with new eyes and find courage to engage in fresh conversation.
-In his letter to the Galatians, Paul even had to point out that the covenant preceded the law by 430 years. Abraham, the father of faith, didn't have a list of rules that kept him from sinning. It was his faith- not his law keeping - that made him righteous, positioning him to receive God's covenantal purpose and promise.
-The truth is grace calls us to a higher standard- a standard that supersedes the confines of rules, a standard that goes beyond what we belive we're capable of.
-Grace goes after the root of sin- our broken nature. The law just managed sin's fruit.
-...God's position isn't threatened by our worshiping someone or something else. His jealousy is aroused by his love for us. He knows that by worshiping someone or something else, we are essentially unmaking ourselves. To worship something is to draw life from it, and there is no true life apart from God.
-He has greater glory in store for us than we could ever imagine, but we will not step into that glory if we hold on to our lives. In Christ, the only things we get to keep are the ones we freely give away.
-When we call ourselves Christians (little Christs), we claim a new identity. We claim a new inspiration, a new source of life. But when we shrink back from who God has re-created us to be, we become Christlike caricatures. We may bear a faint resemblance, but that semblance becomes a point of mockery: "The name of God is blasphemed...because of you" (Rom. 2:24).
-Because Jesus laid down his life, we can lay down our sins.
-God cares more about what's happening in us than what's happening to us. Don't get me wrong; he cares about both. But like any good parent, he doesn't compromise our future by pacifying our present.
-The transcendent holiness that is our in Christ "is not (as people often imagine) a matter of denying something good. It is about growing up and grasping something even better."
-The cross doesn't just represent redemption. It also tells the story of God's faith, steadfast love,...and patient endurance. He will not give up on us. Even when we are faithless- he is faithful.
-He seems us not as we are but as we could be.
-Jesus understands better than any of us that we are all works in progress. When he corrects us, it isn't a form of rejection; rather, it's the confirmation of his vision for our lives and his belief in us. We are destined for more. We are capable of more. So he calls us onward toward that more.
-James' point is that God uses the trials (or pain) in our lives to purify us and make us whole. God doesn't waste anything. He even finds ways to redeem the pain and trials- caused by our own personal sins and the general brokenness of this world- to complete a perfect work in us. His love for us took on human form so that he might intimately lead us through suffering. This is why the writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus learned obedience through suffering and was made perfect through the process (5:8-9). It was through obedience in the process that Jesus "became truly and fully what in His nature He already was."
-God sees us both as we are and how we should be. And he loves everything in between. We can be confident in his love. In patience, we can welcome to pain of the process- even when it doesn't make sense. God promises to redeem the pain, weaving it together to reveal our True Self- secure in him. That's his vision for us- and it's a vision he was willing to die for.
-We are most alive when we are channeling God's grace, love, and holiness.
-...growth follows obedience. And the ultimate act of obedience is to believe and receive what God says about us in his Word.
-"There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below." -Charles Haddon Spurgeon
-Faith in general does you no good. Faith must become personal and specific.
January 23, 2020
Bevere shares his musings about what it means to be a saint. The book includes a number of essays on topics of importance to Christians. He relates stories from the Bible, investigates passages from the epistles, and relates his own experiences.
I appreciate Bevere sharing the wonder and adventure of being a saint. He tries to mine the depths of what we Christians often miss, such as the awe of being in relationship with God. This is the kind of book where you could read a chapter and then spend some time thinking about Bevere's insights.
There are no thought provoking questions included nor is there any practical strategy provided to incorporate Bevere's insights into life. This is a book to read and think about. You are on your own to incorporate the information contained into a life changing experience.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
I appreciate Bevere sharing the wonder and adventure of being a saint. He tries to mine the depths of what we Christians often miss, such as the awe of being in relationship with God. This is the kind of book where you could read a chapter and then spend some time thinking about Bevere's insights.
There are no thought provoking questions included nor is there any practical strategy provided to incorporate Bevere's insights into life. This is a book to read and think about. You are on your own to incorporate the information contained into a life changing experience.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
April 18, 2020
One word can be used to describe Bevere’s writing: messy. Although overall the book had some good and insightful nuggets of truth and provoking thoughts, there was no overall cohesiveness between the paragraphs and chapters, and the book as a whole.
January 3, 2021
The Bible uses the word Christian to describe followers of Jesus a grand total of three times. But there’s another identifier that fills the pages of the New Testament–a word we’ve mistakenly reserved for the halo-wearing elite, losing something profound in the process.
Saints .
Wrapped in this ancient word is a divine invitation to discover who God created you to be and awaken to the life you were meant to know. Using Scripture and stories from his own experience, Addison Bevere makes a compelling case that the life you desire is found in the mystery of this sacred identity.
If you want to exchange lifeless religion for the wonder of following Jesus, this book will spur you onward in your journey.
******
“In Saints: Becoming More Than ‘Christians, ‘ Addison will encourage you to stop fighting for victory and start living from the victorious destiny we already have through Jesus.”–Christine Caine, bestselling author and founder of A21 and Propel Women
“Saints is a clarion call to look past ourselves and to the only one who offers us the good life.”–Kyle Idleman, senior pastor of Southeast Christian Church and author of Not a Fan and Don’t Give Up
“All I can say is ‘Wow’! This ‘Wow’ speaks to the depth of knowledge, strength of wisdom, and keen insight found in Saints. It’s obvious God has given Addison a voice, one that calls all generations to a higher level of living. As a father and fellow minister, I couldn’t be prouder.”–John Bevere, bestselling author and cofounder of Messenger International
“While the word Christian seems to mean a lot of things to a lot of people, Saints calls us back to following our one and only, Jesus Christ.”–Chris Hodges, senior pastor of Church of the Highlands and author of The Daniel Dilemma and What’s Next?
“Addison encourages us to put on our identity as a saint and live in a relationship with Jesus. Saints is an authentic look at what faith can be.”–Bob Goff, New York Times bestselling author of Love Does and Everybody, Always
“In a time when so many young men are deconstructing the sacred, Addison has leaned into it. I am challenged, corrected, and lifted by Saints.”–Lisa Bevere, New York Times bestselling author and ridiculously proud mother
“Addison Bevere has a unique voice in this generation. His new book is a force to be reckoned with in a world that misplaces its identity.”–Heather Lindsey, author, speaker, and founder of Pinky Promise
Out January 2020
240 Pages
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
Heavy, thought-provoking read with moments of being a bit preachy. Not for new believers to take on. Humor and bible references are used to invoke pondering and the raising of questions. Infused with ideologies that may turn on or turn off the reader.
It took me quite a while to finish this book as it is not something you read and then forget. You may want to keep it close and read or refer to often in order to digest meaning and insightfulness provoked by the author. I can’t say I didn’t like it, but the book is complicated in its delivery and often sporadic and the author tends to jump everywhere. The author also rambles a bit here and there and repeats himself a bit.
I was turned off by the preachy nature used to unfold interesting and conversational information. Just not for me.
Saints .
Wrapped in this ancient word is a divine invitation to discover who God created you to be and awaken to the life you were meant to know. Using Scripture and stories from his own experience, Addison Bevere makes a compelling case that the life you desire is found in the mystery of this sacred identity.
If you want to exchange lifeless religion for the wonder of following Jesus, this book will spur you onward in your journey.
******
“In Saints: Becoming More Than ‘Christians, ‘ Addison will encourage you to stop fighting for victory and start living from the victorious destiny we already have through Jesus.”–Christine Caine, bestselling author and founder of A21 and Propel Women
“Saints is a clarion call to look past ourselves and to the only one who offers us the good life.”–Kyle Idleman, senior pastor of Southeast Christian Church and author of Not a Fan and Don’t Give Up
“All I can say is ‘Wow’! This ‘Wow’ speaks to the depth of knowledge, strength of wisdom, and keen insight found in Saints. It’s obvious God has given Addison a voice, one that calls all generations to a higher level of living. As a father and fellow minister, I couldn’t be prouder.”–John Bevere, bestselling author and cofounder of Messenger International
“While the word Christian seems to mean a lot of things to a lot of people, Saints calls us back to following our one and only, Jesus Christ.”–Chris Hodges, senior pastor of Church of the Highlands and author of The Daniel Dilemma and What’s Next?
“Addison encourages us to put on our identity as a saint and live in a relationship with Jesus. Saints is an authentic look at what faith can be.”–Bob Goff, New York Times bestselling author of Love Does and Everybody, Always
“In a time when so many young men are deconstructing the sacred, Addison has leaned into it. I am challenged, corrected, and lifted by Saints.”–Lisa Bevere, New York Times bestselling author and ridiculously proud mother
“Addison Bevere has a unique voice in this generation. His new book is a force to be reckoned with in a world that misplaces its identity.”–Heather Lindsey, author, speaker, and founder of Pinky Promise
Out January 2020
240 Pages
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
Heavy, thought-provoking read with moments of being a bit preachy. Not for new believers to take on. Humor and bible references are used to invoke pondering and the raising of questions. Infused with ideologies that may turn on or turn off the reader.
It took me quite a while to finish this book as it is not something you read and then forget. You may want to keep it close and read or refer to often in order to digest meaning and insightfulness provoked by the author. I can’t say I didn’t like it, but the book is complicated in its delivery and often sporadic and the author tends to jump everywhere. The author also rambles a bit here and there and repeats himself a bit.
I was turned off by the preachy nature used to unfold interesting and conversational information. Just not for me.
January 29, 2020
Great book, but may be too heavy a read for new believers
In his new book, “Saints: Becoming More Than “Christians,” Addison Bevere, son of renown Christian authors, John and Lisa Bevere, delves into what it really means to identify as a Christian, writing that by the power of the God’s eternal Spirit, we can become saints (page 33).
In fact, Bevere writes that the Bible has more to say about us being saints: “While the identifier Christian is used only three times in the New Testament, hagios – translated as “saints” – is used over sixty times (page 36).”
Published by Revell Reads, Bevere’s 240-page book, is a clarion call to live a fuller life in the Lord by making a paradigm shift about who we really are in the Lord when we became born again, infused with the very life and breath of God.
To Bevere, being a Christian should mean more than just being saved; it’s knowing and living the very life of God, and truly knowing our identity in our Lord Jesus Christ.
“To become a saint, … is “to plunge into God’s original design for humanity. It’s to feel what God feels for this world, empowering us to align our actions with His heart. It’s to embrace God’s nature and to step into of our new creation reality … Saints have caught a glimpse of who they are in Christ (page 38).”
As good as his book is, however, the text could be more focused on the central theme – especially since there are too many running thoughts and ideas going on at the same time in each chapter. This is a very heavy read that has to be digested over time and not rushed through in one sitting.
Although this book is great in theory, it’s not in practical application. This is mainly due to the many concepts and ideas thrown at readers all at once that some might find a little off-putting if they don’t have the spiritual grounding and maturity to fully understand them. There is a lot of spiritual meat here that some – especially new believers – may not be prepared to digest yet.
Another troubling element of his book is his use of “True Self” and “False Self” (page 93, 117), as well as “otherness” (page 97). While Bevere is an incredible writer and deep thinker, the text is also a little rambling in certain places and even a little condescending in other places.
But despite my aforementioned issues with the book, I gave Bevere’s book a 5 out of 5 stars because of the tremendous detail and enormous scholarship that went into this work.
Full disclosure: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, I received this book free through the Bloggers Program of Revell Reads, a division of Baker Books. My opinions are my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review.
© 2020 by Doug S., M.A.
In his new book, “Saints: Becoming More Than “Christians,” Addison Bevere, son of renown Christian authors, John and Lisa Bevere, delves into what it really means to identify as a Christian, writing that by the power of the God’s eternal Spirit, we can become saints (page 33).
In fact, Bevere writes that the Bible has more to say about us being saints: “While the identifier Christian is used only three times in the New Testament, hagios – translated as “saints” – is used over sixty times (page 36).”
Published by Revell Reads, Bevere’s 240-page book, is a clarion call to live a fuller life in the Lord by making a paradigm shift about who we really are in the Lord when we became born again, infused with the very life and breath of God.
To Bevere, being a Christian should mean more than just being saved; it’s knowing and living the very life of God, and truly knowing our identity in our Lord Jesus Christ.
“To become a saint, … is “to plunge into God’s original design for humanity. It’s to feel what God feels for this world, empowering us to align our actions with His heart. It’s to embrace God’s nature and to step into of our new creation reality … Saints have caught a glimpse of who they are in Christ (page 38).”
As good as his book is, however, the text could be more focused on the central theme – especially since there are too many running thoughts and ideas going on at the same time in each chapter. This is a very heavy read that has to be digested over time and not rushed through in one sitting.
Although this book is great in theory, it’s not in practical application. This is mainly due to the many concepts and ideas thrown at readers all at once that some might find a little off-putting if they don’t have the spiritual grounding and maturity to fully understand them. There is a lot of spiritual meat here that some – especially new believers – may not be prepared to digest yet.
Another troubling element of his book is his use of “True Self” and “False Self” (page 93, 117), as well as “otherness” (page 97). While Bevere is an incredible writer and deep thinker, the text is also a little rambling in certain places and even a little condescending in other places.
But despite my aforementioned issues with the book, I gave Bevere’s book a 5 out of 5 stars because of the tremendous detail and enormous scholarship that went into this work.
Full disclosure: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, I received this book free through the Bloggers Program of Revell Reads, a division of Baker Books. My opinions are my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review.
© 2020 by Doug S., M.A.
January 26, 2020
Inspired insight and a challenge to embrace your New Self
Becoming More than "Christians"
Author Addison D. Bevere is clearly an inspired and very talented writer and engaging storyteller. Saints Becoming More Than “Christians” is his encouragement to shed our Old Self for Our New Self in Jesus. He breathes new life into the ancient term ‘Saint’ and challenges readers to aspire to the role within their current lives. The good life is not something we find, but something we become.
Saints is packed full of insightful bible references, explanations, and personal stories. Bevere sheds light on many common Christian themes. Most concepts are presented with excellent clarity, although I couldn’t follow all the explanations, particularly the ‘fear of God’.
To describe the experience of reading Saints, I’ll begin with what it is not. It’s not purely academic, but it’s also not a practical guide to making changes in your life. It’s not a light read that you can breeze through if you really want to absorb the message.
Saints is a heady but impressive compilation of inspired concepts and ideas that can encourage Christians to consider leading their lives in alignment with God. However, it falls short of a ‘how-to’ application, limiting its impact on everyday life.
I rated this book at 3.5/5 stars on my review website but rounded up to 4/5 stars on sites that don’t allow half stars.
How this book affected me:
I was really looking forward to reading Saints but it was not as I imagined or hoped it would be. I was more impressed by Mr. Bevere’s writing style and his grasp of the religious concepts than any new takeaways that I can apply to my life and relationship with God. The subtitle promised Becoming More Than “Christians”, but I felt let down by that promise.
Who would enjoy this book:
Readers who enjoy apologetics and academics might enjoy this book. Anyone looking for insight into Christian concepts might enjoy this book. Those who are targeting a specific area of change in their lives would be better served by finding a book more in line with the change they desire.
Our Christian Book Reviews:
The book reviews at Finding God Among Us focus on Christian books, adult and children, fiction and nonfiction. We’re proud to be listed in the Top 50 Christian Book Bloggers ! I chose to read an ARC from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review is my honest opinion.
Becoming More than "Christians"
Author Addison D. Bevere is clearly an inspired and very talented writer and engaging storyteller. Saints Becoming More Than “Christians” is his encouragement to shed our Old Self for Our New Self in Jesus. He breathes new life into the ancient term ‘Saint’ and challenges readers to aspire to the role within their current lives. The good life is not something we find, but something we become.
Saints is packed full of insightful bible references, explanations, and personal stories. Bevere sheds light on many common Christian themes. Most concepts are presented with excellent clarity, although I couldn’t follow all the explanations, particularly the ‘fear of God’.
To describe the experience of reading Saints, I’ll begin with what it is not. It’s not purely academic, but it’s also not a practical guide to making changes in your life. It’s not a light read that you can breeze through if you really want to absorb the message.
Saints is a heady but impressive compilation of inspired concepts and ideas that can encourage Christians to consider leading their lives in alignment with God. However, it falls short of a ‘how-to’ application, limiting its impact on everyday life.
I rated this book at 3.5/5 stars on my review website but rounded up to 4/5 stars on sites that don’t allow half stars.
How this book affected me:
I was really looking forward to reading Saints but it was not as I imagined or hoped it would be. I was more impressed by Mr. Bevere’s writing style and his grasp of the religious concepts than any new takeaways that I can apply to my life and relationship with God. The subtitle promised Becoming More Than “Christians”, but I felt let down by that promise.
Who would enjoy this book:
Readers who enjoy apologetics and academics might enjoy this book. Anyone looking for insight into Christian concepts might enjoy this book. Those who are targeting a specific area of change in their lives would be better served by finding a book more in line with the change they desire.
Our Christian Book Reviews:
The book reviews at Finding God Among Us focus on Christian books, adult and children, fiction and nonfiction. We’re proud to be listed in the Top 50 Christian Book Bloggers ! I chose to read an ARC from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review is my honest opinion.
February 26, 2020
I'll be honest, when I first saw the cover of "Saints", I made the assumption that it would be a compendium of revered figures in Church history. Then I saw the subtitle, "Becoming More Than 'Christians'", and decided to investigate further. I was sufficiently intrigued to request it for review, and I am glad that I did! Rather than a tedious monologue, I discovered an engaging and stimulating call to return to our first love, Jesus.
With "Saints", Addison Bevere sets forth a timely exegesis of what that term actually means within the Bible's context and how we can and should strive to apply it to our lives so that it becomes ingrained into our identity. As Bevere explains, saints are those who have faith in Christ and are in a continually-deepening relationship with God through Him; "a saint is someone who brings a future reality into the present." As a language buff, I appreciate how he expounds upon the semantics of the Bible's use of the term "saints" over "Christians." Furthermore, I find his open acknowledgement and explanation of seemingly contradictory facts or statements in certain Bible passages, such as those relating to fearing the Lord and also not being afraid, wise; as such, I would recommend this book to nonbelievers, especially those with an agnostic bent.
Bevere is in tune with today's society and its Gospel needs, accurately pinpointing some of the most prominent areas of spiritual dearth and pointing readers toward the source of abundance: Jesus. He makes it clear that while nothing can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:38-39), we can separate ourselves from God's grace because “Pride is the grace blocker.” I love how he progresses from the Old Testament to the New Testament because so many focus only on Jesus in the New Testament. "Saints" is truly where the rubber meets the road of our faith journey, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to take their faith in Christ to the next level. Onward and upward!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
With "Saints", Addison Bevere sets forth a timely exegesis of what that term actually means within the Bible's context and how we can and should strive to apply it to our lives so that it becomes ingrained into our identity. As Bevere explains, saints are those who have faith in Christ and are in a continually-deepening relationship with God through Him; "a saint is someone who brings a future reality into the present." As a language buff, I appreciate how he expounds upon the semantics of the Bible's use of the term "saints" over "Christians." Furthermore, I find his open acknowledgement and explanation of seemingly contradictory facts or statements in certain Bible passages, such as those relating to fearing the Lord and also not being afraid, wise; as such, I would recommend this book to nonbelievers, especially those with an agnostic bent.
Bevere is in tune with today's society and its Gospel needs, accurately pinpointing some of the most prominent areas of spiritual dearth and pointing readers toward the source of abundance: Jesus. He makes it clear that while nothing can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:38-39), we can separate ourselves from God's grace because “Pride is the grace blocker.” I love how he progresses from the Old Testament to the New Testament because so many focus only on Jesus in the New Testament. "Saints" is truly where the rubber meets the road of our faith journey, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to take their faith in Christ to the next level. Onward and upward!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
February 12, 2020
In his book, Saints, Addison Bevere encourages us to remember who we are in and through Christ – Saints. Saints is a term not often used today. Yet it is the very identity we have been given and are called to live in this world.
In the introduction, Mark Batterson explains:
“The message of Saints is not about achieving perfection but authentically and intimately walking with God as his plans for you are fully realized in your life.”
The book is reflective, provoking one to think more deeply about our need for God in our daily lives. We will find ourselves reminded anew to fear God with a renewed reverence and awe of His greatness and majesty.
The book is a wonderful reminder there is more to life than meets the eye. God has more for each of us than we could ever imagine and as we take the time to delve deeply into a relationship with Him, He will unfold His purposes in our lives.
The book is rich with quotes which added to my enjoyment:
“God creates out of nothing … But he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners.”
– Soren Kierkegaard
“The decline of the knowledge of the holy has brought on our troubles. A rediscovery of the majesty of God will go a long way toward curing them.”
– A. W. Tozer
“Grace is but glory begum, and glory is but grace perfected.”
– Jonathan Edwards
“Grace is nothing else than a beginning of glory in us.”
– Thomas Aquinas
Each chapter provided something for me to ponder before moving onto the next one. Each chapter is a call to be more, to be all we have been created to be.
“A Saint: someone whose life is marked by a hope and a purpose that astound our world and point people to the One who is life.” (page 33)
Saints is a book for us all, for as we journey through its pages we will discover - we are all saints.
** I was provided a copy of this book by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
In the introduction, Mark Batterson explains:
“The message of Saints is not about achieving perfection but authentically and intimately walking with God as his plans for you are fully realized in your life.”
The book is reflective, provoking one to think more deeply about our need for God in our daily lives. We will find ourselves reminded anew to fear God with a renewed reverence and awe of His greatness and majesty.
The book is a wonderful reminder there is more to life than meets the eye. God has more for each of us than we could ever imagine and as we take the time to delve deeply into a relationship with Him, He will unfold His purposes in our lives.
The book is rich with quotes which added to my enjoyment:
“God creates out of nothing … But he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners.”
– Soren Kierkegaard
“The decline of the knowledge of the holy has brought on our troubles. A rediscovery of the majesty of God will go a long way toward curing them.”
– A. W. Tozer
“Grace is but glory begum, and glory is but grace perfected.”
– Jonathan Edwards
“Grace is nothing else than a beginning of glory in us.”
– Thomas Aquinas
Each chapter provided something for me to ponder before moving onto the next one. Each chapter is a call to be more, to be all we have been created to be.
“A Saint: someone whose life is marked by a hope and a purpose that astound our world and point people to the One who is life.” (page 33)
Saints is a book for us all, for as we journey through its pages we will discover - we are all saints.
** I was provided a copy of this book by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
February 9, 2020
Bevere, son of Lisa and John Bevere gets his fabulous writing style from his parents for sure. Saints sounded so "saintly" from the title, and I was not sure I would care for this read.
But it's so not about religiosity, like in its teaching/sharing.
To be a Christian is only mentioned a few times in the Bible, according to Bevere. But to be a Saint, is a divine invitation to discover who God can be to you and I.
Some very valid points he shares, is that we need to get rid of lifeless religion. God did not create denominations. He commanded we be Christ like and be a follower of Jesus.
Offering various scripture to back up his explanation, we can trust that Bevere is on to something very enlightening.
We can't live in fear of God, in reverence, yes. but fear as we know it is cast down. Expectations for the best in our life is what God desires for us.
God's plan is to overwhelm us with his love and grace with no legalism nor religious spirit.
Converse with the Father. He is a communicative God.
LFIe with the structure of his liberty.
What a relief!
He tells us that we find LIFE in death.
Truer words were never spoken.
Jesus died on the cross for us to live and to the fullest.
I definitely recommend this book
I love the cover, the design, and what an easy to follow read it is.
But it's so not about religiosity, like in its teaching/sharing.
To be a Christian is only mentioned a few times in the Bible, according to Bevere. But to be a Saint, is a divine invitation to discover who God can be to you and I.
Some very valid points he shares, is that we need to get rid of lifeless religion. God did not create denominations. He commanded we be Christ like and be a follower of Jesus.
Offering various scripture to back up his explanation, we can trust that Bevere is on to something very enlightening.
We can't live in fear of God, in reverence, yes. but fear as we know it is cast down. Expectations for the best in our life is what God desires for us.
God's plan is to overwhelm us with his love and grace with no legalism nor religious spirit.
Converse with the Father. He is a communicative God.
LFIe with the structure of his liberty.
What a relief!
He tells us that we find LIFE in death.
Truer words were never spoken.
Jesus died on the cross for us to live and to the fullest.
I definitely recommend this book
I love the cover, the design, and what an easy to follow read it is.
March 4, 2020
In the book Saints, new author Addison Bevere, writes about this ancient word and attempts to show what it means. Bevere writes: “While the identifier Christian is used only three times in Scripture, hagios—translated as "saints"—is used over sixty times. According to HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, hagios "refers to those whose relationship with God is maintained through faith in Jesus Christ."”
I found Bevere’s thoughts on idolatry made me think. He writes: “To worship something is to draw life from it, and there is no true life apart from God. Humankind’s undoing has always been our worship of self—our favorite idol. Our modern world is still very much in love with this idol. In fact, our Western culture celebrates and glorifies self-worship. This is why idolatry is deeply intertwined in the systems and pursuits of our world and undoubtedly alive and well today. Is it any wonder that Jesus’s call to life requires us to deny our self and follow in his self-sacrificing love? A new way of life made possible only by both his example and his Spirit?”
While Bevere has some good thoughts, I felt the book rambled and diverged from its focus regularly. I would recommend this book but realize that the book is more about general Christian living. I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I found Bevere’s thoughts on idolatry made me think. He writes: “To worship something is to draw life from it, and there is no true life apart from God. Humankind’s undoing has always been our worship of self—our favorite idol. Our modern world is still very much in love with this idol. In fact, our Western culture celebrates and glorifies self-worship. This is why idolatry is deeply intertwined in the systems and pursuits of our world and undoubtedly alive and well today. Is it any wonder that Jesus’s call to life requires us to deny our self and follow in his self-sacrificing love? A new way of life made possible only by both his example and his Spirit?”
While Bevere has some good thoughts, I felt the book rambled and diverged from its focus regularly. I would recommend this book but realize that the book is more about general Christian living. I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2020
"Saints " by Addison Bevere is a Christian living book. Addison is the COO of Messenger International wants us to know we are saints and can live knowing we are saints. We have a new nature since Christ has come.We are to live above the rules and show character. We are to live above the rules and show character. He says Christians often judge and point the finger at others and are not willing to die for the people in the world. We have to look beyond ourselves and deny ourselves and follow Christ. We have to lay our false self down and follow Christ. We have to daily lay down our cross. This book is powerful and challenges Christians to a higher calling. He is honest about how He thinks Christians need a new identity and view of themselves. This book is inspiring and motivating for the Christian. He reminds us that God operates out of love. Thank you to Revell for allowing me to read and review this outstanding book. It is well written and challenges the Christian to their live with their new identity. . Thank you also to the author for allowing me to read and review this book. I will post my review on facebook, Goodreads, my blog netgalley and share it with church staff.
February 18, 2020
This was a pleasant surprise of depth. I was hoping it would be good. Going in I figured it was going to be an enjoyable, simple read about our identity in Christ. I was pleasantly surprised to find a meatier dialogue of who we are in Christ. It reminded me of a friendlier version of a Tozer classic, meaning that Bevere covers the theology and Scripture of what it truly means to walk as a Saint, but also weaves his own personal stories and some contemporary references that add to the depth instead of water down the writing.
In his book Saints, Addison Bevere reminds the reader of who they already are in Christ. He lays down the premise of what was won for us at the cross and through the life of Christ, and now is ours to grow into, not try to gain. Christianity is not try harder so that we can become Saints, but we are saints let us walk more and more in our truest identity. I would recommend this read to anyone looking for a solid read on what it means to be a follower of Christ. This book does a great job covering Scripture, theology, and practicality of walking as a Saint.
*** I was given a copy of this book from Revell Publishing for an honest review. All opinions are my own. (full review on my blog inkblotlife.com)
In his book Saints, Addison Bevere reminds the reader of who they already are in Christ. He lays down the premise of what was won for us at the cross and through the life of Christ, and now is ours to grow into, not try to gain. Christianity is not try harder so that we can become Saints, but we are saints let us walk more and more in our truest identity. I would recommend this read to anyone looking for a solid read on what it means to be a follower of Christ. This book does a great job covering Scripture, theology, and practicality of walking as a Saint.
*** I was given a copy of this book from Revell Publishing for an honest review. All opinions are my own. (full review on my blog inkblotlife.com)
March 1, 2020
“But real growth invites us to confront the depths of our brokenness through the power of humility and grace. With every humble step, we tear down our False Self and make space for the transforming power of grace.”
— Addison Bevere
Going into this book I went in blind, not really expecting anything. Wow am I blown away. Addison writes on topics that are often spoken about, but missed in the modern church. The Holy Spirit through Addison’s words really touched me & awakened me. This book will make you crave the life of a true Saint of Christ. I am so thankful I got to read this book. Nothing short of excellent.
You can tell in his writing that every detail was intricately placed. No sentence is fluff & it all remains significant from paragraph to paragraph. The author is not shallow at all & hits home on so many needed topics. I loved that I learned vocabulary along the way :))) (he is really good about using diction). Anyways, do yourself a favor and grab this book! You won’t regret it. I surely will not forgot the lessons learned in “Saints.”
Well done Addison. Well done. I am so excited to watch what God does in your life & am looking forward to reading more of your work.
— Addison Bevere
Going into this book I went in blind, not really expecting anything. Wow am I blown away. Addison writes on topics that are often spoken about, but missed in the modern church. The Holy Spirit through Addison’s words really touched me & awakened me. This book will make you crave the life of a true Saint of Christ. I am so thankful I got to read this book. Nothing short of excellent.
You can tell in his writing that every detail was intricately placed. No sentence is fluff & it all remains significant from paragraph to paragraph. The author is not shallow at all & hits home on so many needed topics. I loved that I learned vocabulary along the way :))) (he is really good about using diction). Anyways, do yourself a favor and grab this book! You won’t regret it. I surely will not forgot the lessons learned in “Saints.”
Well done Addison. Well done. I am so excited to watch what God does in your life & am looking forward to reading more of your work.
January 26, 2020
Saints: Becoming More than Christians by Addison D. Bevere is exactly what my current pastor was trying to say. Becoming Christians is not our only stop. God calls us to become like Saints. By becoming Saints, we then have fulfilled our duty as God’s children. Readings from Paul enhance this message throughout the book. Addison Bevere’s writing was easy to follow. I enjoyed reading and learning the same mess at my pastor has been teaching me and members of my church.
I saw the title of this book and was like: OMG! I have to have this book! This has helped reinforce what I’m learning at mass. As Christians we need to reach higher. Christians is a good start to becoming saints. Being good people is not the only thing God calls for us to do. By being just good Christians is the same as a student doing his homework and turning it in on time. But it takes more than just following and obeying instructions. We as Christians need to do more. Live more in example to our peers. Becoming like saints is the way to God and the way to the calling for each one of us.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
I saw the title of this book and was like: OMG! I have to have this book! This has helped reinforce what I’m learning at mass. As Christians we need to reach higher. Christians is a good start to becoming saints. Being good people is not the only thing God calls for us to do. By being just good Christians is the same as a student doing his homework and turning it in on time. But it takes more than just following and obeying instructions. We as Christians need to do more. Live more in example to our peers. Becoming like saints is the way to God and the way to the calling for each one of us.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
March 12, 2020
When you look at the state of the Christian faith today, do you ever wonder if we believers are missing something? We know we’re sinners and we want Jesus to cover our sins, but do we really feel worthy to take up our own crosses and follow him?
In Saints, Addison Bevere (oldest son of authors and speakers John and Lisa Bevere) explains how Jesus and his apostles never meant for the church to become the self-focused forgiven Christians of today. For starters, we weren’t even called Christians in the beginning. The word Christian is barely even used in the New Testament. Instead, followers of Christ are called Saints. It’s a higher calling, a holy calling, that somewhere along the way got reserved only for “elite” followers of Christ.
Through Saints, Addison makes a strong case for the way of the Saints and inspires followers of Christ to awaken to the holiness of their true identities. The message of this book encouraged my heart, challenged my thinking and pushed me to deepen my relationship with God. I look forward to watching this message inspire our generation to live differently.
In Saints, Addison Bevere (oldest son of authors and speakers John and Lisa Bevere) explains how Jesus and his apostles never meant for the church to become the self-focused forgiven Christians of today. For starters, we weren’t even called Christians in the beginning. The word Christian is barely even used in the New Testament. Instead, followers of Christ are called Saints. It’s a higher calling, a holy calling, that somewhere along the way got reserved only for “elite” followers of Christ.
Through Saints, Addison makes a strong case for the way of the Saints and inspires followers of Christ to awaken to the holiness of their true identities. The message of this book encouraged my heart, challenged my thinking and pushed me to deepen my relationship with God. I look forward to watching this message inspire our generation to live differently.
March 9, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Thought-Provoking and Spiritually Challenging
Saints by Addison Bevere is a powerful and thought-provoking book that challenges readers to move beyond a surface-level faith and embrace their true identity in Christ. Bevere does a great job unpacking what it really means to live as a saint—not just someone who claims Christianity but someone who walks in the fullness of God’s calling.
The book is deeply biblical, engaging, and filled with personal stories and insights that make it relatable. It encouraged me to reflect on my own faith and how I approach prayer, transformation, and spiritual maturity. At times, some sections felt a bit repetitive, and I wished for even deeper exploration in certain areas, but overall, the message is strong and inspiring.
If you’re looking for a book that will stretch your understanding of what it means to follow Jesus and live a life fully surrendered to Him, Saints is definitely worth the read!
Saints by Addison Bevere is a powerful and thought-provoking book that challenges readers to move beyond a surface-level faith and embrace their true identity in Christ. Bevere does a great job unpacking what it really means to live as a saint—not just someone who claims Christianity but someone who walks in the fullness of God’s calling.
The book is deeply biblical, engaging, and filled with personal stories and insights that make it relatable. It encouraged me to reflect on my own faith and how I approach prayer, transformation, and spiritual maturity. At times, some sections felt a bit repetitive, and I wished for even deeper exploration in certain areas, but overall, the message is strong and inspiring.
If you’re looking for a book that will stretch your understanding of what it means to follow Jesus and live a life fully surrendered to Him, Saints is definitely worth the read!
September 4, 2020
3.5 stars
I certainly agreed with the vast majority of the opinion and teaching in this volume, but there was a lack of engagement for me personally. I was waiting for some a-ha moments and convicting application that I needed to embrace, but I just found it to be good, solid basic teaching. I listened to the book and the narration was a little stilted at times. I think the author narrated his work – maybe he should have brought in a reader to add some additional vitality to the book. With this kind of criticism, I have to add perspective – others may find this book inspiring, dynamic, and life-changing (and I really hope this is true), so I humbly understand that I am not a qualified book critic, especially an audiobook expert. It just didn’t appeal to me - but please check it out for yourself.
I certainly agreed with the vast majority of the opinion and teaching in this volume, but there was a lack of engagement for me personally. I was waiting for some a-ha moments and convicting application that I needed to embrace, but I just found it to be good, solid basic teaching. I listened to the book and the narration was a little stilted at times. I think the author narrated his work – maybe he should have brought in a reader to add some additional vitality to the book. With this kind of criticism, I have to add perspective – others may find this book inspiring, dynamic, and life-changing (and I really hope this is true), so I humbly understand that I am not a qualified book critic, especially an audiobook expert. It just didn’t appeal to me - but please check it out for yourself.
December 14, 2023
There are many great aspects of this exhortation to the Body of Christ to live as disciples, most notably: the fear of the Lord, faith, obedience. In this way this is a true encouragement! I appreciate the author, but in this particular book, he uses a repetitive mantra of the language or true self/ false self and he seems to assign different meanings to the terms depending on the context. He conflates those terms many times with the Biblical language of old self/ new self, but since that is not always what he means, it leaves a lot of confusion. While I don't think the author's beliefs are syncretic, the language he uses reads like some of his major influences are. The constant use of these terms throughout deeply stole from the message.
July 26, 2021
“You were made for glory, you ARE a Saint. Come home”
I’ve read this book while taking the 16 days relevant course on MessengerX app which I highly recommend as it gives some behind the scenes sections and interactions with the author’s family which I found to be enjoyable.
One of my favourite chapters was the Green Eggs and Ham section which was honestly quite eye opening for me, had to re-read it 3 times!
Reason for 4 stars out of 5:
The book was really off to a great start and discussed theological point of views mixed in with personal life experiences however somewhere in the middle onward I honestly got a bit bored and it passed by in a blur until the ending :)
I’ve read this book while taking the 16 days relevant course on MessengerX app which I highly recommend as it gives some behind the scenes sections and interactions with the author’s family which I found to be enjoyable.
One of my favourite chapters was the Green Eggs and Ham section which was honestly quite eye opening for me, had to re-read it 3 times!
Reason for 4 stars out of 5:
The book was really off to a great start and discussed theological point of views mixed in with personal life experiences however somewhere in the middle onward I honestly got a bit bored and it passed by in a blur until the ending :)
April 6, 2020
In his debut book, Addison Bevere does a good job of presenting Gospel truths in a compelling, yet straightforward manner. Covering topics like purpose and sanctification, Bevere uses both scripture and narratives to guide the reader through each section. While the approach was sound, the writing mostly just scratched the surface of deeper truths. The book stop short of truly exploring the promise of an anointed perspective on sainthood that is as refined as it is compelling. That said, I look forward to reading more of Bevere's work in the future.
April 6, 2022
Very inspiring and encouraging book
This book was very well written and communicated. Pulling together a well thought out understanding about what it means to grow in Christianity and development through discipleship as a Saint. I gained a lot of insight about my walk. Which was to run my race in faith. Denying my flesh and truly running with my cross I have to bare with God’s empowerment. Must read!!!
This book was very well written and communicated. Pulling together a well thought out understanding about what it means to grow in Christianity and development through discipleship as a Saint. I gained a lot of insight about my walk. Which was to run my race in faith. Denying my flesh and truly running with my cross I have to bare with God’s empowerment. Must read!!!
January 31, 2020
Addison Bevere writes this book with the intention of Christians understanding that we are more than just the title "christian". He gives many Biblical examples on different topics and questions we ask or doubt as Christians. Bevere is very knowledgeable and wise when it comes to these topics. Although I found this book very knowledgeable, I found it quite repetitive and all over the place. There was a lot of thought provoking statements that I took note of. I give this book a 3.5/5 stars due to being kind of bland in my opinion and confusing at points.
January 28, 2020
Refreshing perspective
Awesome to see the heritage and anointing of John Bevere active in his son. He is a voice for the millennial generation in a Christian world it feels has given up on them.
Awesome to see the heritage and anointing of John Bevere active in his son. He is a voice for the millennial generation in a Christian world it feels has given up on them.
March 26, 2020
Just finished this. He is definitely a little more heady and cerebral than his preacher parents and there were less personal stories. I feel like I got a lot of good nuggets of quotable, thinkable truth, but as a whole I wasn't quite sure what I read exactly. I still enjoyed it quite a bit.
March 31, 2020
This book is far more opinion and personal experience than it's is scriptual and theological. But, I imagine some would benefit from reasoning this, especially those who are struggling with discover what the author calls our ”True Selves” while having a hard time letting go of our ”False Selves”.
August 31, 2020
Super challenging but insightful look at what it takes to truly become more than a “Christian”. Love how in depth he goes into the idea of grace and how it shapes what we as followers of Jesus should look like.
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